From: owner-lostholt-l@murkworks.net on behalf of Wolf031877@aol.com Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 9:04 PM To: lostholt-l@murkworks.net Subject: [lostholt-l] More Raft - discussion of earlier events Synopsis: Flashfire and Silverthorn meet up again, then Surfsinger and Ember show up and earlier events are discussed, among other things. Players: Flashfire (logger), Silverthorn, Surfsinger, Ember. Logged: 3/25/00, after the earlier one from the same date. ----------------------------------------------------------- Waterfall - Surface - Raft Holt The waterfall towers before you, the surroundings so magnificent, everything coming together in perfect harmony here. When the daystar is up, the mist created by the water flowing down into the big pool at the base, create a faint image of a rainbow. A cliff juts out just by the waterfall - vines dangles down from a tree on the very edge, the grass thick and green up there. The sounds of the water rushing into the pool dominate the area, a crescendo that carries out into the jungles. The pool is naturally formed, a big oval shaped edging, a big stream running into the trees, heading for the ocean. A ledge, wide enough for an elf or wolf to pass has been pulled from the cliff face. It runs along it heading behind the crashing waterfall. The grass is thick and lush surrounding the pool, a few rocks and boulders closer to the very base of the waterfall provides perfect seating. Wildlife tend to drift this way, across the pool one can catch a glimpse of some creature wanting a fresh drink. The whole place is open, lined only by the trees which leads deeper into the forests, a path can be seen there. Daybreak and the sun chases the moons beyond the horizon. The early fog disappears quickly as the daystar climbs the sky. The twin stars of Timmorn's Eyes fade into the glare of morning as light fills the chill winter skies. The rising sun dancing attendance. Contents: Silverthorn Skywise's Tent Dreamy's tent Obvious exits: Tunnel Into the pool Cliff Waterfall Path In spite of whatever partying might be going on back at the beach, Flashfire's up by the waterfall, looking towards the cliff. He remembers the plunge Skywise took the first time the 'gazer saw it, and he might actually be thinking about trying it for himself. But he's not going near the party until he's sure that preserver's gone. A playful yip comes from the treeline. Fenris burst out of the woods with some sort of material hanging from his mouth. After a moment or two Silverthorn breaks thru the scrub laughing as she chases her cub. **Give it back!!** Flashfire's contemplation is interrupted by the elf and wolf as they show up, the wolfelf turning to blink in their direction. What's that he's got in his muzzle? . o O ( ? ) Surfsinger arrives from Tunnel behind Waterfall - Raft holt. Ember steps out of the foilage from the waterfall path. Silverthorn finally catches up to her cub and tugs on the cloth in Fenris' mouth. **Let go you overgrown fleabag!!** She tugs harder fighting the cub to get the piece free. **That's Tumbles new shirt..If you rip that.. ** Her tone is mock-threatening. "He's just trying to play, I think.." Flashfire says, fully turning away from the waterfall as Fenris and Silverthorn come closer. He grins, waiting to see how this'll play out. Ember emerges from the trees. "Who's playing?" she asks, padding into the clearing and looking around. Then, she sees the struggle between Silverthorn and Fenris. She grins. "Oh." As the tug-of-war continues, Silverthorn edges closer to the waters without noticing it. If anyone else is there she didn't notice. The cub might be young but he is almost full-sized already and quite strong. She fights to keep from tearing the new shirt she just made for her son. **LET GO YOU FLEABAG** With that firm send the cub does just that! Silverthorn falls backwards when the cloth is released and ends up tumbling into the pool. Splash! The cry from the cliff-top is as full and carefree as any wolfrider's howl. A streak plummets by and a second splash explodes from the center of the pool, sending spray flying everywhere. Bubbles stream out from behind Surfsinger as she continues through the water and loops back up towards the surface. Flashfire finds a snicker coming at the continued antics of the elf and wolf, especially with her winding up in the water afterwards. Then he jumps at Surfsinger's sudden entrance, hopping away from the water before catching sight of Ember, who he rushes up to and tries to bearhug. "Ember!" Ember's eyes fly open and she raises her hands either to fend off her brother's hug, or to match it. It's hard to say. Doesn't wanna lose her title as Unpounceable, y'know... "Heyla, Flashfire!" she says quickly. "Whoa! What's up with you?" Even so, she grins. Silverthorn laughs and comes up with the shirt at least. Then she looks down at it. There is a hole big enough to put over her head in the back of it. **FENRIS** she growls...then blinks as she realizes there are others around. She smiles and shakes her head **Shade all** Surfsinger's head breaks the surface and she shakes it, her hair whipping out and sending up almost as much spray as her dive just did. She grins, eyes bright. High Ones, but it's good to be able to do that again. ** Tides! ** she responds, swimming up behind her sister. She peers over her shoulder at the torn leather. ** Oh dear. ** Flashfire's not trying to pin Ember this time, though. He nuzzles wolfishly at his bigger sister's cheek, settling again after that, looking faintly insecure about something after he flinches at Silverthorn's send meant for Fenris. "Did you hear what happened earlier, Ember..?" Silverthorn sighs and turns to her sister. **Oh well..maybe there's enough left to do something for Cadence with it.** She slips under the waters to finish soaking down while she's there. The wolfcub slinks back into the woods to hide for now. "That you got spooted with wrapstuff?" Ember queries. "I heard rumours." She arches a brow, reaching out to fuzzle Flashfire's furry shoulder. "What happened?" Surfsinger smiles wryly at Silverthorn, ducking under the water again as well. ** That could work. ** she agrees. Sure, why not? The child will grow quickly enough, neh? She strokes back a ways to enjoy the water's coolness. Flashfire frowns at that one from Ember. "Aye..that bug wouldn't leave me alone, and it thought when I said I wanted to sleep that I want its help.." He frowns, shaking his head. If he sees it again it'll be too soon. "Did..did you hear about before that..?" He asks Ember, briefly forgetting about the others. Silverthorn surfaces and tosses the wet leather piece onto the rocks. Oh well, she swims after her sister. **So what happened after I feel asleep sis? Anything exciting?** Ember shakes her head, settling down beside her brother, her smile fading somewhat as she regards him. "No... What?" She cants her head wolfishly to one side, regarding him curiously. Flashfire remains standing, pacing in a short circle. "Tsoran's here..he tried to bother me again," he explains, and it seems the Chosen still has a hold of sorts on him, for he doesn't look the most comfortable. Surfsinger shakes her head, offering Silverthorn a smile. ** No. Not at all. Shay'la and Fin shared a dance with Redtide and I, and a couple of others came for some food, but otherwise things faded very quickly after that. ** She grins at Silverthorn. ** You must have been the life of the party. ** Teasing somewhat. Why else would the festival die out so fast after the wolfrider maiden disappeared, neh? ** Silverthorn blushes and sinks into the water. **I doubt that sis..more likely the berries finally took hold on the guests.** She swims around for a few minutes trying to get her face back under control. Ember frowns openly now. "Tsoran?" She doesn't look at all amused. Her lower lip juts out in its typical fashion and she crosses her arms over her chest -- looking not at all unlike her father in that moment. "What did he try to do this time?" Surfsinger chuckles softly. ** That could be, too. ** she concedes, ducking under the water to give playful, though hardly strenuous, chase to her sister. All she's really doing is trying to catch up, not attack. Even beneath the water, she flashes Silverthorn a grin. The berries got to Flashfire pretty good last night, at least. He glances back to the sisters, not really following their conversation. He's not meaning to be rude, but he needs to make Ember aware of this part. "I don't know, yet..he said I'd find out next time and floated off." Silverthorn surfaces and takes a deep breath. She isn't a fishy-elf after all! Her head shakes as she grins back down at her sister. **Like that's fair!! You chasing me in the waters..** She waves absently to Flashfire and Ember. Hmm..they don't seem to want to be interrupted just now. Ember's eyes flatten slightly. Were she a wolf, it would be her ears that flattened. Regardless, it's clear she's somewhat displeased with the glider. "We'll see about that." she says, the protective alpha wolf rising in her. "If he threatens you again, call me immediately." Providing she's not there, of course. Surfsinger surfaces moments after Silverthorn. She grins. ** About as fair as you chasing me through the trees. ** she admits, not at all repentant. She glances over to Ember and Flashfire, as well. A brief, questioning frown flits across her brows, solely because of Ember's expression. She casts a glance back to her sister, then. Flashfire throws a quick wave at Surfsinger and Silverthorn, really not wanting to exclude them from anything but it seems they're having enough fun of their own, so that's good. "I will, Ember..I promise. I'll try not to let him bait me or do anything bad.." Just the fact that Ember's on the job and looking out for him helps reassure him. All the other times, he didn't have that support when Tsoran harassed him. Ember nods, still frowning. She reaches out to give Flashfire a reassuring hug. "It'll be okay... But, no, don't let him bait you. If he tries to bait you, leave." There's no shame in retreating. Even a wolf won't face an enemy without the pack if it can help it. Silverthorn catches the tone of the conversation and tilts her head curiously. Ok, normally she doesn't pry but this sounds ..serious. "Who is baiting you Flashfire?? And how is he threatening you?" She likes this furry-elf and would hate to see him harmed, especially at her home. Silverthorn looks back at her sister to see what she might know. Surfsinger swims over to the edge of the pool at Ember's words. Someone has to stand in for her mate and his sister, after all. The rather serious expression on her face might indicate that she's very interested in the answers to her sister's questions. ** No one has the right to threaten a guest in our holt. ** she says firmly. Flashfire easily slips into the hug from Ember, not really wanting to let go. "Walk away..?" He never thought of it before. That might just work. He'll have to try, but preferably he won't have to see if it'll work or not. He answers the others, next. "Tsoran..he's a glider, one of Winnowill's Chosen." He nearly spits it out with deep distaste. "He's..enjoyed making me squirm for a while now. Says he's just here because of the party, but I don't trust him." Ember leaves one arm protectively about Flashfire and turns to look at the two elves in the water. "The Chosen have often been known to harass wolfriders." she mentions somewhat casually. Her eyes are still flat, however, so don't mistake that casual tone for anything other than a calming 'cover' for her distinct displeasure. Silverthorn slips out of the pool and wrings her long braid out. All playfulness is gone from her now. She watches Ember and Flashfire closer at the hate in his words. That sounds an awful lot like trouble. "Who is Winnowill?" Her fingers drift down towards her dagger unconsciously. "This doesn't sound good at all Flashfire. Harass?? How?" Yes, she has questions. This is now hitting close to home. Silverthorn tends to be very protective of her family and friends. If this is a new threat, she wants to know what she is up against. Surfsinger's frown deepens somewhat. ** Tsoran, eh? Aroree mentioned he could be... discourteous. ** Actually, she said 'rude', but that's such a niggling difference. ** It doesn't matter. ** she says firmly. ** No one should be harassed here. If it happens again, Flashfire, let me know as well. Or Redtide or Stormgrace. ** Since they're /really/ the chiefs and all. ** Because we're /definitely/ going to want to have 'words' with him. ** Forceful words if necessary. Rafters don't take well to breaches of their extended hospitality. "Don't let him double-talk you..he's sneaky." Flashfire says, holding close to Ember, able to feel safe with her there and he doesn't mind others knowing it. But he looks to her, hoping she can add to his explanation. "I don't know a lot about other things he's done, but he seems to enjoy making it hard on me..a lot of words and hidden threats.." Ember answers Silverthorn's question herself. "Winnowill is the Lord of Blue Mountain. She hates wolfriders because she says we're not 'real' elves." Her tone indicates exactly how much she appreciates that point of view -- or not. "It's the wolfblood she hates." She glances to Surfsinger. The seaelf is technically a pureblood, after all, and so likely will never ever cross the Black Snake's mind. "She's done all sorts of things to us. She reshaped my father to look like one of her gliders, and she's 'purified' other elves." She nods towards the beach. "You know the Briarholt chieftess MoonBright, and her daughter Fen? Winnowill gave them gills, but stole their ability to breathe air so they were trapped inside the mountain. Mother had to go to their holt and heal them." And remember, MoonBright is a /wolfrider/ not a seaelf -- no mater what she looks like. Silverthorn pales and goes deadly still now. "Not again..' she mumbles beneath her breath. High Ones not that! **What is it about the wolf blood that drives them so?** It is a question she doesn't expect to have answered but it slips from her anyway. She closes her eyes and pulls herself slowly together. When her eyes open back up she seems outwardly a little calmer but her near-white eyes seem to glow defiantly. "She..what?" Flashfire blurts at the news of MoonBright. He'd never heard about -that- and he didn't get that good a look at MoonBright at the party, either. And he'd thought Winnowill couldn't do any worse than she'd already done. Erf. Somehow he managed to miss the news from Leetah, if she explained it. Then he adds, "She..she also did this to me. It's almost..made me lost a few times." If they thought he was born like this, the truth's out. Ember knows it already, though. Surfsinger looks between both Lostholters. ** I will keep that in mind. ** she says to both, not at all thrilled with either of their information. She looks to Silverthorn and swims over to her, laying a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. ** It doesn't matter, sister. We've dealt with it before, we can deal with it again. ** The seaelf doesn't take any more kindly to threats to her home and family than her soulsister does. More so, since she perceives this threat to that same sister and her kind. ** If Tsoran becomes a problem, he will be told to leave. ** In no uncertain terms. Ember glances to her brother and nods. "That's what mother said, anyway. And I overheard MoonBright speaking with someone about it since we've been here." She's no more impressed than Flashfire is. She leaves her arm about his shoulder, though, still protective, and glances to the other maidens. "Winnowill's a problem." she admits. "But, there's only so much we can do against her." Silverthorn draws on her sister's strength and nods to her. These two sisters have been thru fire together, they can survive most anything now. **If he bothers you Flashfire, count on my help to solve the matter** The send rings with a promise that is matched by the dagger slipping into her hand unconsciously. "We..should probably be going again soon anyway. I don't want to bring any trouble here because of me," Flashfire explains, staying there with Ember, totally looking like the guarding big sister right now, keeping an eye over her family. He does nod to the two sisters, but his thoughts are shifting back to Suntop. Tsoran's around. What if he's after Suntop, too? Surfsinger nods, giving Silverthorn's shoulder a squeeze. She gives Flashfire a reassuring smile, even if it is a little tight. ** You haven't brought trouble, Flashfire. ** she says. ** Trouble is perfectly capable of finding its own way here. ** She looks to Ember. ** Still, if you have to go, we understand. You're always welcome, though. ** Ember nods to Surfsinger. "We appreciate that." She even smiles a bit. "But, Flashfire's right. We have to find Suntop. We were hoping he might have come here." She can't help but sound a little disappointed. Silverthorn relaxes just a little. **I haven't seen anyone who answered to Suntop here. Please don't go because of this..glider. Stay a little and rest up for the journey** She seems to remember her manners belatedly. Surfsinger blinks. ** Suntop? ** She remembers Suntop. Quite fondly actually. Concern laces her send. ** What's happened? ** Flashfire looks to Ember for the final say on this one, deferring to her as the trip alpha, her being pack second back home already. "Thanks.." he says to the other two, growing quieter again. Ember blinks a little at Surfsinger's question. She sighs. "He's gone missing." she admits. She runs her free hand through her hair and wrinkles her nose. "We remembered that he had come to the VastDeep once to teach a certain seaelf how to 'go out', but we don't know who that was. We were hoping maybe he'd come back here to visit them, but... ** She trails off helplessly with a shrug. It's rather obvious that hope was somewhat futile. Silverthorn shakes her head and is clueless on this subject. That must have been before her joining this holt. **Do you know who that might have been Sister?** She turns towards Surfsinger now. Surfsinger nods. ** Aye. It was Coral, the Islanders' chieftain. ** She smiles slightly, though her concern is evident. ** That's where I met Suntop. When our tribes joined forces to battle the whitefins. ** She purses her lips, looking at Flashfire and Ember. ** I didn't hear of Suntop passing by this way, but it's possible he made contact with Coral and passed us by entirely. ** More that Flashfire doesn't know. "The Islanders?" he repeats, looking up to Ember for an explanation. Or maybe it'll come from Surfsinger or Silverthorn. They'd probably know better than sis. "He just left the holt..I followed him alone and couldn't find him, so I came back and more of us went looking." The group that wound up here, actually. He leaves out some of the details of his own exhaustion when he'd gotten back home, as they are insignificant and have no real bearing on this right now. "We're just worried, because that's not like him.." And there were already problems going on. Ember nods, both to Flashfire and Surfsinger. "The Islands, eh?" She glances to Flashfire and then to Surfsinger. "How far are they from here? Do you think we could reach them easily?" Can't hurt to check with Coral, right? Silverthorn sits down to the side and just listens now. Her eyes keep their intensity as she tries not to think about this Winnowill or the gliders. Surfsinger draws in a breath and hoists herself out of the pool to sit down as well. As she exhales, she sends. ** It's at least three days by raft. ** she says. ** So, no, it's not easy. ** At least, not for mainlanders. She purses her lips. ** I am one of the strongest senders in the tribe. Reef is the strongest of all of us... Perhaps we can help you send to him instead. Spare you the journey. ** Not that she know whether or not that will work. Flashfire shifts to settle in a sitting position at Ember's feet, occupying himself by poking gently at the toes of her boots. It's her call if she wants to try to contact the island or someone there, and he'll go along with whatever's decided. He sure won't be doing the sending, that's one thing that's a given. Ember chews on her bottom lip, considering that. She looks at Flashfire for a long moment and a send flickers between them before she answers Surfsinger at all. You sense in a locksend, Ember's send is quiet, her deep concern for her twin very strong. ** I don't think he's out here, Flashfire... You share his soul, too... Can you feel him? ** Because she doesn't. Not here. ** Maybe we should go see Savah... ** You locksend to Ember, Flashfire can't feel him nearby, either. He's..been able to at least feel something whenever Suntop's been around, but right now - nothing at all. ** He's not there..we won't find him there. ** Of this, he seems certain. Then he agrees. ** We should go there..maybe the Palace, too. ** A soft hint of surprise slips from Silverthorn now. Reef is the strongest? Wow. She would have never guessed that one. The little wolfrider remains silent as the others decide. Ember nods to Flashfire. She looks at Surfsinger. "Thanks for the offer." she says softly. "But, Suntop's not here. He's not out by the islands, either. We're twins. I'd feel him if he were. And Flashfire's shares his soul, too. Neither of us can feel him here. I think we'll just head back to the mainland. We'll go on to Sorrow's End and talk with Savah. Maybe stop by the Palace." It's all she can think to do, really. Surfsinger nods to Ember in return. ** All right, then. ** she says. Sincerity in her send, she says, ** If we hear from him, or anything about him, we'll find someway of contacting you. ** She offers a small smile. ** I very much enjoyed my time with him. He taught me to howl. ** Yes. The /suncub/ taught her to howl. Scary, eh? She's genuinely fond of him. ** I hope you find him well. ** Flashfire nods slowly at Ember's explanation of things between the two of them and Suntop, not at all ashamed of anyone knowing that information. He continues to fiddle with Ember's boots just because it's something to do, before pausing at Surfsinger's sends. "He did..? You sure that was Suntop?" He's about the last one he'd expect to teach someone to howl. Silverthorn laughs a little and smiles at her sister now. **So that's who taught you first. I always wondered about that.** She turns her head a little and nods to a private send. **I need to go tend to something. If you will all excuse me** With that she gets up and dusts off her bottom. Ember wiggles her toes against Flashfire's prodding and wiggles her fingers in the fur on the back of his neck. She, too, blinks at the idea of Suntop teaching anyone to howl. "You're sure it was Suntop?" Surfsinger flashes Silverthorn something of a grin as the wolfrider begins to move. ** Aye, sister. That's who it was... ** She glances back to Flashfire and Ember. ** Aye. I'm sure it was him. ** She even sends an image of Suntop, resplendent in seaelf clothing, no less. Silverthorn waves absently to the others and heads towards her tent. She nods at another send and disappears into the trees. Flashfire ooos at the wiggling toes, briefly forgetting himself as the wolf in there plays some, grabbing for the covered toes. Then he arches slightly at the fingers at his neck, rumbling pleasantly at that. Yes, it works. An eye even squints shut slightly before he blinks at the image of Suntop. "That's him, all rrright.." Ember snickers as Flashfire tries to grab her toes. She nudges him with a knee and attacks his shoulders with both hands, scritching at the fur, there. She tilts her head at Surfsinger's send and nods. "Aye. That's Suntop." Her grin turns crooked. "I hope someone's taught you how to howl properly, since then." Okay, so she's teasing her twin without him being here. Some habits are hard to break. Surfsinger continues to smile somewhat. ** Oh, aye. ** she chuckles. ** Silverthorn has seen to that. Sometimes I think she means to turn me into a wolfrider completely. ** Her eyes sparkle. ** But, then, I keep trying to have her learn to be a seaelf, so I suppose it evens out. ** Flashfire slips forward enough to brace himself with a hand against the ground, glancing at Ember briefly before she goes to work on his shoulders. "Oooh..!" He's never one to pass up a good scritching, no matter who it's from. And she knows it's something he likes. Just can't help it, you know. Timmorn probably enjoyed the same thing. Then he adds a laugh at the expense of Suntop, only hoping he can be found so some of the teasing can be done right to him again. "Nothing wrong with being a wolfrider.." he grins. Ember grins, too, vigorously scritching out that fur, brushing sand and other island bits out as she goes. "Nothing at all." she agrees. Then she teases her fuzzy brother. "Long as you don't have to swim in saltwater too often." Surfsinger chuckles softly. ** Silverthorn's Greyeyes hated the water. ** she acknowledges. ** But Fenris can't seem to get enough of it. ** She grins. ** So, I guess it all depends on the wolf. ** And she eyes Flashfire as he stretches out for the scritching. Flashfire does actually settle down on his stomach, finding that a much nicer position to be in for what Ember's doing. There's a lot of sand still around, and she might even come across some lingering bits of wrapstuff from earlier, the gooey stuff. "Rrrr.." He chuckles at the comment about the saltwater. "Dries out my fur too much.." he says, short of forlornly. Ember kneels down to apply a little bit more thorough pressure to her scritching of Flashfire. She does pick out a couple more small clumps of wrapstuff that was hiding underneath some thicker fur and flicks it away. A chuckle escapes her. "That bug got you good, huh?" she prods Flashfire. Flashfire settles his chin on his forearms, shutting his eyes slightly more at the good working of his back and fur there. "I guess so..if I ever see another bug again it'll be too soon," he mutters, somewhat put off. Surfsinger rises to her feet. ** I'm sure it does. ** she says to Flashfire. ** I know it does a real job on any leathers out here. ** She smiles at the siblings. ** I need to go check on my daughter. Its about time for another feeding. Warm tides to you both. I'll look for you later. ** Ember grins at Flashfire, laughing a bit at his complaint - not that she blames him. Then, however, she glances up at Surfsinger and nods. "Aye. We'll see you later." Her expression turns a little serious as she responds to her silent send, but it doesn't linger long as she renews her fur-rubbing. Flashfire offers a wordless, distracted send of goodbye to Surfsinger, expecting to see her again before the Lostholt contingent departs the area. Sorry, Ember's got him fairly distracted and that's not a bad thing, everything taken into account. He sends gratitude, pleasure. With a nod and a wave, Surfsinger turns and heads back down the path towards her lean-to on the beach, and her baby. Ember smiles, finishing up the rubdown by plucking out the last little bits of stuff she can find. "I think I'm going to go find Skywise and talk to him." she says softly. "See what he thinks about where we should go from here." She pats your shoulders one last time and then rises to her feet. "I'll let you know what he says." Flashfire nods slightly to Ember. Oh, she's done? He sits up and fluffs himself, finding the State of his Fur to be much better than before. "Thanks, Ember..I'll be here, probably." He hops up to snug her, nuzzling at her cheek affectionately. Ember nods. "Okay. Try and stay out of trouble then." That means avoiding gliders. She returns the snug and nuzzle in turn before stepping away and heading up the path to the cliff, the most likely place to find the Stargazer, anyway.